Wines

THE GRAPES
Our vineyards are  grown using a philosophy  of minimal intervention and fertilised with natural compost produced on the farm.  The best blocks of each varietal at Alvi’s Drift are meticulously managed to optimise quality. These Viognier grapes were selectively hand harvested to ensure only healthy, ripe bunches were used for production. 
 
IN THE CELLAR
Only the best free run juice was cold fermented to ensure maximum fruit and flavour retention.   After fermentation the wine was left on it’s fine lees for 4 months and battonaged regularly before bottling. 
 
THE WINE
The wine has a lovely pale straw colour.  The nose is typical of viognier, but in an elegant and restrained way.  The aromas are dominated by apricots and white peaches.  The wine is soft, ripe, and round with a lovely viscous texture.  The flavours linger, giving the wine a very long flavour profile. The fruit is nuanced with a hint of cashew nuts, elegant and aromatic, this really is a red wine drinkers white.  Good with spicy dishes and hard cheese. 
 
AWARDS
Gold Michelangelo International Wine Awards 2016 Gold Award in the Gold Wine Awards 2016 Gold in the Vitis Vinifera Awards Competition 2016 

ANALYSIS
RS- 4.1    Alc-13.71%    TA- 6.7   PH-3.13 
 
CULTIVAR INFORMATION
Viognier 100% 

THE GRAPES
Our vineyards are  grown using a philosophy  of minimal intervention and fertilised with natural compost produced on the farm.  The best blocks of each varietal at Alvi’s Drift are meticulously managed to optimise quality. These cabernet grapes were selectively hand harvested to ensure only healthy, ripe bunches were used for production. 
 
IN THE CELLAR
The grapes were crushed into roto-fermenters where they fermented for approximately 7 days.  Juice was drawn off the  skins to improve the wines colour and flavour intensity.  The wine was matured with American oak for 8 months prior to bottling. 
 
THE WINE
The Alvi’s Drift Shiraz has a medium colour with an attractive garnet hue. The wine is elegant and nicely balanced.  The aromas on the nose are a subtle blend of white pepper and red berries with a hint of vanilla and chocolate.   The flavours are well integrated with nutty oak characters.  The palate is balanced with surprising length and fullness.  The oak, fruit and tannins are beautifully integrated, giving the wine a subtlety and elegance rarely found in New World wines.   Ideal with poultry, especially roast or barbecued chicken. 
 
AWARDS
Double Gold Award in the Vitis Vinifera Awards Competition 2016 Gold Award in the Gold Wine Awards 2016 Gold Award Ultra Value Wines 2016 

ANALYSIS
RS-4.6       Alc-13.17%     TA-5.5    pH-3.54 
 
CULTIVAR INFORMATION
Shiraz 100%  

THE GRAPES
Our vineyards are grown using a philosophy of minimal intervention and fertilized with natural compost produced on the farm.  The best blocks of each varietal at Alvi’s Drift are meticulously managed to optimize quality. These sauvignon blanc grapes were selectively hand harvested to ensure only healthy, ripe bunches were used for production. 
 
IN THE CELLAR
From crushing the juice was reductively handled. Only the best free run juice was coldly fermented to ensure maximum fruit and flavor retention.   After fermentation, the wine was left on its fine lees for 4 months and buttoned regularly before bottling. 
 
THE WINE
The wine has an attractive pale straw color.  The wine is light and fruity with aromas of cut grass and asparagus.  The palate is nicely balanced with a fresh zingy finish.  Great for seafood or as an aperitif. 
 
AWARDS
Gold in the Gold Wine Awards 2017

ANALYSIS
RS-4.6       Alc-12.81%     TA-6.6   pH-3.09 
 
CULTIVAR INFORMATION
Sauvignon Blanc 100% 

THE GRAPES

Our vineyards are  grown using a philosophy  of minimal intervention and fertilised with natural compost produced on the farm.  The best blocks of each varietal at Alvi’s Drift are meticulously managed to optimise quality. These pinotage grapes were selectively hand harvested to ensure only healthy, ripe bunches were used for production. 
 
IN THE CELLAR
The grapes were crushed into roto-fermenters where they fermented for approximately 7 days.  Juice was drawn off the  skins to improve the wines colour and flavour intensity.  The wine was matured with American oak for 8 months prior to bottling. 
 
THE WINE
Alvi’s Drift pinotage has been a speciality of the cellar since it was first bottled in 2006.  The wine has a strong, medium dark colour with a garnet hue.  The bouquet and palate are filled with juicy, ripe berry characters with mulberry and blackberry dominating.  The tannin structure is well balanced with the oak and fruit.  Subtle vanillin oak is integrated with hints of chocolate and dark cherries.  A lovely wine for roast meat or duck. 
 
ANALYSIS
RS- 4.8   Alc-13.21%     TA-5.6   pH-3.55 
 
CULTIVAR INFORMATION
Pinotage 100%

THE GRAPES
Our vineyards are  grown using a philosophy  of minimal intervention and fertilised with natural compost produced on the farm.  The best blocks of each varietal at Alvi’s Drift are meticulously managed to optimise quality. These Chenin grapes were selectively hand harvested to ensure only healthy, ripe bunches were used for production. 
 
IN THE CELLAR
Only the best free run juice was used in the production of this fruity unwooded wine.  Highly clarfied juice was cold fermented  to maximise flavour retention.  
 
THE WINE
Light straw in colour, the chenin blanc is full bodied yet elegant.   The wine is very viscous, giving it  a wonderful mouthfeel and  texture.  The acid is well integrated and balanced resulting in a palate that shows great length and fullness for an unwooded wine.  Primary fruit flavours of white peaches and nectarine   dominate the nose and  palate.  The resulting wine shows a rare combination of intense aromas, complexity and length which is  an excellent example of South African Chenin blanc. Compliments fish, salads and white meat dishes. 
 
AWARDS
Double Gold Ultra Value Wines 2016 Gold in the Vitis Vinifera Competition 2016 

ANALYSIS
RS-5.0    Alc-13.54 %     TA-6.1   pH-3.23 
 
CULTIVAR INFORMATION
Chenin Blanc 100%

THE GRAPES
Our vineyards are  grown using a philosophy  of minimal intervention and fertilised with natural compost produced on the farm.  The best blocks of each varietal at Alvi’s Drift are meticuliously managed to optimise quality.  These chardonnay grapes were selectively hand harvested to ensure only healthy, ripe bunches were used for production. 
 
IN THE CELLAR
Our vineyards are  grown using a philosophy  of minimal intervention and fertilised with natural compost produced on the farm.  The best blocks of each varietal at Alvi’s Drift are meticuliously managed to optimise quality. These chardonnay grapes were selectively hand harvested to ensure only healthy, ripe bunches were used for production. 
 
IN THE CELLAR
Only the premium free run juice was used for this wine which was fermented with French oak.  The wine was aged on lees and battonaged regularly to maximise flavour and complexity. 
 
THE WINE
This lightly wooded blend has a lovely straw colour with aromas of ripe apricots, peaches and spanspek.  The palate is  full and creamy with subtle roasted nut characters balancing the fruit aromas.  Great with salty soft cheeses and white meat such as pork, chicken and turkey.  

AWARDS
Awards Double Gold in the Vitis Vinifera Awards Competition 2016 Gold in the Ultra Value Wines 2016 

ANALISYS
RS-4.3   Alc-13.14 %     TA-6.7    pH-3.09 
 
CULTIVAR INFORMATION
Chardonnay 100%

THE GRAPES
The wine is made entirely from estate grown fruit, hand selected in the early morning to ensure only cool, perfect bunches are delivered to the winery.  Optimum  ripeness was achieved at  approximately 25° balling. 
 
IN THE CELLAR
The wine was crushed into traditional open fermenters for fermentation. Juice was bled from the skins to improve the colour and total phenol levels in the wine.  Once fermentation commenced  the cap was punched through by hand up to 8 times per day.  After fermentation the wine was matured for 22 months in a combination of  French and American Oak barrels of which a third were new. 
 
THE WINE
Drift Fusion is a cabernet dominated Cape’s Blend ensuring that the classic Bordeaux variety is complimented with a minimum of 30% of the Cape’s “own” grape, pinotage.  The 2013 is enhanced with shiraz and a small amount of petite verdot. This classic cape blend is full of ripe blackberries, mulberries and plums, integrated with vanilla and cashew nut characters through careful oak maturation. A perfect partner  for red meat, game, duck and mature cheeses. This  wine will continue to improve with age for 5-8 years.  
 
THE PACKAGING
The label features an illustration of Alvi’s Drift, the ford built by Alvi van der Merwe in 1928.  This low water bridge crosses the Breede River which cuts through the family property.  Founded in 1928, Alvi’s Drift cellar has produced a string of award winning wines. The Reserve range is the culmination of our pursuit of producing wines of the highest quality and unrivaled complexity. 
 
AWARDS
Double Gold Award in the Top 100 SA Wines 2016 Gold Award in the International Wine Guide for Spain 2016 

ANALYSIS
RS- 3.4           Alc-14.14%       TA-5.8         pH-3.66 
 
CULTIVAR INFORMATION
Cabernet Sauvignon 45.20%;  Pinotage 30%;  Shiraz 24.80%

THE GRAPES
The wine is made entirely from estate grown fruit, hand selected in the early morning to ensure only cool, perfect bunches are delivered to the winery.  Maturity reached optimum levels of ripeness at approximately 24° balling. 
 
IN THE CELLAR
The Grapes were whole bunch pressed and the free run was barrel fermented using a combination of CY3079 and selected wild yeast strains. The wine was matured on lees for 11 months in French oak barrels where it was regularly battonaged. 
 
THE WINE
The Reserve chardonnay is made in a Burgundian style ensuring complexity and great aging potential.  The wine is a lovely pale straw colour with a nose showing elegant peach aromas.   The palate is full, balanced and lingering with a hint of citrus, white chocolate and vanilla pods. Great with chicken and duck dishes, firm fish such as tuna and soft cheeses.The wine has great aging potential and will reward 2 to 5 years of cellaring.  
 
THE PACKAGING
The label features an illustration of Alvi’s Drift, the ford built by Alvi van der Merwe in 1928.  This low water bridge crosses the Breede River which cuts through the family property.  Founded in 1928, Alvi’s Drift cellar has produced a string of award winning wines. The Reserve range is the culmination of our pursuit of producing wines of the highest quality and unrivaled complexity. 
 
AWARDS
Gold Award in the International Wine Guide for Spain 2016 Gold Veritas Award 2016 

ANALYSIS
RS- 4.3          Alc-13.71%        TA-6.6        pH-3.17 
 
CULTIVAR INFORMATION
Chardonnay 100% 

THE GRAPES
Albertus Viljoen chenin blanc is the best of the best of the made at Alvi’s Drift.  Hand selected in the vineyard and whole bunch pressed in the cool early morning to preserve the flavours of nature.   
 
IN THE CELLAR
The wine is barrel  fermented  with a selection of wild and cultured yeasts. After fermentation, the wine is stored on it’s lees to improve mouthfeel and complexity.   

THE WINE
The wine has a light and brilliant straw colour which catches and reflects light like cut crystal.  The complex   nose is dominated by nectarine and peach fruit characters and integrated toasty oak characters.The palate is rich and creamy with a viscous mouth feel.  Aromas of  roasted cashew nuts and vanilla pods tease the senses.  Soft, full and round but elegant, the palate lingers for an eternity.  Made in small quantities, this is a wine which only a few people will ever taste. 
 
ANALYSIS
RS-4.9   Alc-13.53%     TA-6.1    pH-3.27 

CULTIVAR INFORMATION
Chenin Blanc 100%

THE GRAPES:
The wine is made entirely from estate grown fruit, hand selected in the early morning to ensure only cool, perfect bunches are delivered to the winery.  Maturity reached optimum levels of ripeness at approximately 25° balling. 
 
IN THE CELLAR:
The wine was crushed into traditional open fermenters for fermentation.  Juice was bled from the skins to improve the colour and total phenol levels in the wine.  Once fermentation commenced  the cap was punched through by hand up to 8 times per day.  After fermentation the wine was matured  for 22 months in a combination of  French and American Oak barrels of which a third were new. 
 
THE WINE: 
Albertus Viljoen is Alvi’s Drift flagship red blend.  Named after our charismatic founder, Albertus Viljoen van der Merwe was a fine athlete and represented South Africa as a Springbok rugby player.  He was the first man to score a try against the All Blacks on South African soil. 
 
THE WINE: 
The wine is a blend of 50% shiraz, 21.5% cabernet sauvignon, 21.5% pinotage and 7% petite verdot.  This is an elegant but full bodied wine, exhibiting plenty of spicy shiraz pepper fruit and ripe dark fruit characters.

ANALYSIS:
RS-  3.3               Alc-   14.38%                TA- 5.4                  pH-3.67 

CULTIVAR INFORMATION:
Shiraz 50%; Pinotage 21.50%; Cabernet Sauvignon 21.50%; Petit Verdot 7%